A Jesuit from Juarezhttps://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com
Thoughts on the Papal Visit to MexicoTue, 20 Mar 2018 02:02:39 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngA Jesuit from Juarezhttps://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com
Gotham Vs. Nineveh: Reflectionshttps://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/03/08/gotham-vs-nineveh-reflections/
https://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/03/08/gotham-vs-nineveh-reflections/#respondTue, 08 Mar 2016 01:44:11 +0000http://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/?p=1063At the mass in Ciudad Juárez the Pope compared the city to Nineveh. This is the city that Jonah is sent to preach for their conversion. Francis was simply preaching on the reading of the day. He said that Jonah was basically sent to tell them that if they didn’t change they were going to die. This was simply the natural course of events, the consequences of their sins was imminent destruction. God was sending Jonah as a voice of reason, and a loving gesture, to prevent their self-destruction. Jonah reluctantly does preach to them, and to his great surprise they all change around.

I had mentioned before that people in Juárez named the city the Gotham of Mexico as an endearing nickname, perhaps a way to cope. The more I think about the Pope’s homily the more I think of Juárez as Nineveh, and less as Gotham. New names often come with new identities in the bible. Perhaps they do so today as well.

Gotham is a city that will never recover. Is the stuff from comic books. It needs a hero because it does not care for itself. It needs an outsider. Evenmore, Batman is a hero that attempts to fight violence with violence, and if sociology and religion agree on something it is that violence begets violence. Gotham is not a place of hope. It is a place of darkness.

Nineveh, however, is a people of surprises. This is precisely the expression the Pope has used during and after his visit to Mexico to describe his time there. He has said, Mexico is the country of surprises. I don’t know exactly what he means by it, but perhaps it has something to do with the great hope I’ve been describing in previous posts. I think Juárez is a place of surprises because of how it has found its soul after the violence.

There is still work to be done in Nineveh. Juarez still needs to put into practice the many lessons it has learned. More people need to wake up, more need to take leadership in the light. Corruption is still a great problem. Nepotism is still there. However, I’d like to think of Juárez as Nineveh now, rather than the Gotham City of Mexico. I much rather the light at the end of the tunnel in the conversion that Nineveh underwent, than the constant need for a violent hero from the outside.

I thank you God for a Prophet like Jonah to a land like Nineveh in the 21st century.

During the Pope’s speech to Business people and workers the Pope spoke about their responsibility to create working environments that are “worthy and useful to society, especially for the young.” Its opposite was described by pope Francis with the image of a petri dish where bacteria slowly grows. The petri dish of lack of education, and lack of work opportunities, which lead to poverty and marginalization is the place where the bacteria of violence and drug crimes grows. He said that “God will hold accountable our modern-day slave holders.” He warned them not to get “lost in the seductive seas of ambition.” This was not your warm and cozy, lovey-dovey, Pope Francis. Yet, he delivered those words with loads of hope, helping people imagine how to move forward.

He proposed communication, even healthy confrontation, as well as for people to commit themselves to the idea that they need to lose in some areas in order for everyone to win in the long run. He proposed that work should be serving human beings, and not the other way around, which is what Catholic Social Teaching is all about. Business needs to lose some profit in order to “invest in people,” he said.

Two friends of mine and my family, who are committed Christians and were both volunteers at the Pope’s visit, come to mind as people creating cradles of hope. They are tremendous sources of inspiration in living out what the Pope spoke about. After reflecting on what the Pope said to business people I thought I’d include their stories here:

My friend David Blancas is in the center of both pictures above. The picture to the right is of me, David, and my brother Luis, from right to left, the evening after the Pope’s visit. The picture on the left is of the opening for their first housing development for low-income people. My middle brother is on the far right of that picture. David is a housing developer , who is shaking things up when making housing for the poor. The poorest housing available now can seem pretty expensive. His competition sells houses without doors, without a wall to separate them from the next house; without parks. These are costs they save, and pass on to their poor clients. My friend David believes that “added value” like parks with gazebos, grills, and a structure to hang a piñata, not only helps people flourish, but makes his company more competitive. Their houses are an invitation to develop their family lives and play with their children. Not to mention that they include doors, light bulbs, separating fences, and all the rest. “People choose the company that cares for them; people notice. We take a hit in certain industry markers, but we put people first, and that’s what makes us much stronger than our competitors.”

Another example is a friend of my father and mine, Arturo Adame, who runs a Maquiladora. He’s wearing a black coat, sitting to the right of my dad in this picture. They are both holding their volunteer tags at the Pope’s event, where they served as part of the 100,000 volunteer force. Arturo also believes that his faith should inspire his work. He says that they have a budget under which they have to operate. He says he can’t give people the salaries he wishes. However, “I’ll give them as much as I can within the constraints placed on me. I give every single employee the opportunity to get the next level of education they need. I make sure we have healthy and tasty food in our plant: restaurant level. If I don’t absolutely love eating with them, I don’t serve it. I won’t offer mid-night shifts. I just don’t think it’s good for families. I actually measure our employee’s satisfaction on the regular basis as much as I measure our client’s satisfaction. I see myself as serving both.” These are the kind of hope-filled people the Pope hopes to animate.

These are just two of my friends who make me think that there’s lots of hope for the future of Juarez. These are the type of people that are constructing brighter opportunities for the city. These are the people the pope comes to affirm, while many of their competitors go with an “all profit, no social responsibility” motto. They both believe that Francis’ message might activate some business people who have been on the fence about some of these issues.

“We’re all in the same ship” the pope said. “Work should be a space for humanization and building a bright future.” May we see more people like David and Arturo in Ciudad Juarez. I thank God for the hope they represent for me and for the city.

At the end of the mass in Ciudad Juárez the pope stopped reading his notes, looked up and said that there were points where he was about to tear up during his visit to Ciudad Juárez. He said that many parents would lift up their children as he was passing by. He said that he was deeply touched to see so much hope, represented in those children, in a city that had known so much pain.

In the next few posts I’d like to speak about hope. Those children are promises for the future, but hope is already making a cradle for them in the city. I’d like to affirm that in this and the next post.

I find great hope in the pursuit of beauty, art and infrastructure for the city.

When I was doing volunteer work in Juarez there was something I’d love to show my friends, what I called “Pretty Juarez.” The places I love. Many of those were affected by the violence, and run down. However, a sign of hope is that people are starting to rebuild the city, and re-beautify it. These people find in the words of Francis a renewed impetus. When Francis was speaking to people from the business world, he said that we are co-creators with God. In this post I’d like to affirm those co-creators, and give you a view of the city that is rarely shown.

I want to begin here, because it is such a symbolic piece. This is a Mural that went up in Juarez recently. This face is engraved within every art piece and architectural structure built or re-serviced after the violence. It is the face of hope, but not a superficial or manufactured one. It’s a face of hope from someone who has known great pain. This is the face of Ciudad Juárez today:

I see that face in the following places: In the next video I have a silent walk through a park that is in front of San Lorenzo, a church that the pope probably saw on the way to El Punto. The videos below are super short, I promise, and you don’t really need headphones, but there’s wonderful singing birds in the background:

Now let’s leave this very spot and fly over some of Juárez’s most beautiful architectural buildings today. All of these were either made or re-serviced after the violence. They are all cradles of hope where the Children of Juárez will play, work and pray:

Finally, here’s a video at night passing through a restaurant section. It is a real joy to see places like this, where people can come to just have a good time. Places of fun and recreation were precisely the first things that disappeared when the violence hit. Here’s to more of such cradles of hope for the city!

This is just to wrap it up, and give you a good sense of the City. It’s a video made for Francis’ visit:

These are just a few places. However, art and infrastructure are not the only places of hope. I’d like to mention some more in the following post. To finish on a symbolic image. Here’s the pope kissing one of those babies raised up to him during his visit to Juarez:

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]]>https://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/21/reflections-cradle-of-hope-part-1/feed/0artjesuitfromjuarezartbaby.jpgThe Next Few Postshttps://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/21/the-next-few-posts/
https://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/21/the-next-few-posts/#respondSun, 21 Feb 2016 14:51:48 +0000http://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/?p=766I have been re-reading the Pope’s messages, praying and reflecting on them. In the next couple of posts I hope to write some posts labeled as “reflections” to talk about what does this visit mean now for people in Juárez and for me. Afterwards I’ll write some posts labeled “Effects” that will be about what might God be telling us all.

I also have a few videos with interviews that you might find interesting. I’ll be posting those once I translate them. I didn’t have the idea of translating as I went along on the first run of interviews I made. Adding the subtitles takes forever!

Afterward, I might keep going backward from the Pope’s messages in Juarez to those given in Mexico in general. I might close shop. I might use this to talk about Spirituality. I’m not sure. What I do know is that things are about to get busy for me as I get back to regular life as a Campus Minister and Theology teacher. So, I’m not sure what will be of this blog, but I’ll keep you posted.

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]]>https://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/21/the-next-few-posts/feed/0jesuitfromjuarezMissionary Priest to Indigenous Peoplehttps://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/missionary-priest-to-indigenous-people/
https://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/missionary-priest-to-indigenous-people/#respondWed, 17 Feb 2016 17:16:44 +0000http://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/?p=730Ciudad Juárez is a place where many cultures converge. People from different places in Mexico and Latin America often to Ciudad Juarez to either work in Maquiladoras or to go across the border. Indigenous people are not an exception. Every so often indigenous people come down from the mountains, where they’re normally located and try to find work or beg. The Pope has been calling us to not ignore them.

At every mass in Mexico the Pope invited Indigenous people to take part in the celebration. In his visit to Ciudad Juarez this was not an exception. The picture is below is from the petitions at mass in Ciudad Juarez.

The video below is from the moments right before the mass. People like the priest here have dedicated their lives to the mission of serving the indigenous people. He explains some of the main issues related to the Indigenous people in the North of Mexico:

In this shorter video he speaks what the Pope’s visit means to the Indigenous people of Mexico and those working with them.

Let us pray for our missionaries as they share our faith and hope:

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]]>https://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/missionary-priest-to-indigenous-people/feed/02013-07-26-indigenas-3jesuitfromjuareztarahumaraHope Before the Popehttps://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/meeting-some-of-my-fellow-pilgrims/
https://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/meeting-some-of-my-fellow-pilgrims/#commentsWed, 17 Feb 2016 15:11:39 +0000http://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/?p=713While waiting to board the bus to El Punto, where Pope Francis would say Mass later that day, I ran into some friends who are doing great work in Ciudad Juárez. The Salesian Priests and Brothers have opened youth centers here where they offer educational and recreational help and options for kids living in poverty. Join our chat about this Work of Hope that’s still growing in Juarez today. These are the agents of hope and prevention initiatives that were encouraged and affirmed by the Pope’s visit and message:

You can find out more about what the Salesian Missions are doing in Mexico on their website.

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]]>https://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/meeting-some-of-my-fellow-pilgrims/feed/5morningjesuitfromjuarezToday’s the day!- Walk with mehttps://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/todays-the-day/
https://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/todays-the-day/#respondWed, 17 Feb 2016 14:42:42 +0000http://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/?p=703The people here in Juárez are just so excited to welcome Pope Francis today. Here’s a quick video as I make my way to El Punto, where he will say Mass later today:

On the way we ran into a wall from Poetic Action, or Acción Poética. I wrote about their work a previous posts here, and here.

My first stop was the Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia – or the Church of the Holy Family, the church where I was baptized. I talk here about the choir for the Pope’s mass and the process of getting to El Punto.

I ran into the group of Jesuits that were there to concelebrate as well.

Finally, this is me arriving to El Punto. What a great energy:

Here’s a video of the Altar and people as they were getting ready for mass:

This is what the Altar and music were like from where I was.

After this time I spent all my time hearing confessions. It was amazing how many people got in line to receive the sacrament and reconcile with God. Afterwards the mass went on. Rather than giving you a poorly filmed video here’s the real thing starting at the homily.

Prayers from Juárez !

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]]>https://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/todays-the-day/feed/0jesuitfromjuarezmorningWhere the Pope will be: Sight and Soundhttps://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/where-the-pope-will-be-sight-and-sound/
https://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/where-the-pope-will-be-sight-and-sound/#respondWed, 17 Feb 2016 03:20:07 +0000http://jesuitfromjuarez.wordpress.com/?p=663This is a video talking about a place called El Punto, which is now only a stage, but it’s in the preparation stages for creating a Church/Cultural Center/Mental Health Space specializing in grief and trauma. It’s pretty cool. This is where the Pope will celebrate mass, and it’s right at the border with El Paso, Texas, which you can see from there:

Here’s a Video that tracks the making of this place so you can get a better look of it, which is the 5th stop for the Pope tomorrow, February 17. Here’s the list of all the stops with a map:

Airport

CERESO: Social Re-adaptation Center, A.K.A. a maximum security jail.

Meeting with business people from the city, and workers. (Carlos Slim might be there. He is possibly the wealthiest person in the world.)

Let’s talk about Juárez before maquiladoras. The economy of Ciudad Juarez was deeply affected by WWI and WWII, given its proximity to Fort Bliss Military Base, about 20 minutes away by car now. During the first World War, two million soldiers were sent to Fort Bliss. The region developed a very large industry of tourism, bars and nightclubs to serve many of these soldiers, as well as others. Prostitution was unfortunately a really big business as well.

Between the two World Wars was Prohibition, and Ciudad Juárez was always the closest place to Fort Bliss away from U.S. Law. Commerce, Cotton, and Construction were also sources of work, but never very strong.

A friend of my family recalls the time period. He remembers opening the newspaper, looking at the ads for jobs and reading mainly requests for female bartenders and waitresses. Apparently Ciudad Juárez was known as Sin City.

At the time, some businesspeople from Ciudad Juárez started to wonder what could be done to improve the city’s future. After much research a brilliant idea came about: bring U.S. manufacturing work to the city. As transportation methods had improved, the location of this border placed Ciudad Juárez in a privileged position. It’s in the dead center of the Country ready to ship goods all around the U.S. The idea was that they could benefit from cheap labor, but Mexico could benefit from learning the trade to foster work like this independently. However, it took a life of its own. Many factories came over, and all the sudden the city was booming with work. The unemployment rate in Mexico during the 1990’s was in negative numbers. There were Maquiladoras(factories) that had stationary signs requesting for workers.

What went unnoticed at the top, while businesspeople were busy “taking care of business” was the rupturing to the Social Fabric that was happening beneath the surface. Since labor was cheap, parents took 2 shifts, at the same time, leaving an inordinate amount of children to themselves.It was the butterfly effect: the wind of a butterfly flapping its wings in one place causing a hurricane somewhere else. Perhaps the sin of the system was that the good people who built new jobs, and brought in a creative new industry to town failed to see their “human resource” as more than just a resource. Perhaps they failed to see their humanness.

It was these children who grew up without parents who were the main players in the thick of the violence. It was a disengaged generation. They also underestimated the humanness of their fellow citizens.

This is a story that is developing, and there are always second chances. Perhaps the violence was the shake up needed to wake people up to the depth of the tear in the Social Fabric. Rebuilding IS happening as we speak. I’ll say more on those initiatives in later posts.

Special Thanks to Annie Bermudez for her perspective helping me appreciate the

I’m not going to write about things as they happen. There’s plenty of resources for you to find online. I might provide links. However, I am here to help you understand Juarez – its people and places, the meaning the Pope’s visit may have, and what will remain after he’s gone. Being a Jesuit, I’d like to do it in an Ignatian way, so I will follow the structure of an Ignatian Contemplation. This is what Ignatian Contemplation looks like:

This was in the back of my mind when I started with posts labeled “A Contemplation of Place.” I need to write more of these, and I’ve been interviewing people in order to do this. I’ll include the interviews, which I need to translate. I think you’ll love them. I hope this does for you what the Contemplation of Place does in a prayer. It provides a context, where later meditations can turn alive.

The second kind of posts will be labeled “Reflections,” and those will be reflections on what the experience of having the Pope here has meant for me and people here. I liken this to Entering the Scene of a meditation in Ignatian Contemplation because in entering the scene we’re able to gain new insight into scripture, or an image. Those insights are what these Reflections will be about the Pope’s visit.

Finally, I’ll try to point at what some of the “Effects” may be, including what God may be saying to us moving forward. I do intend that someone could use this blog as prayer. This is what the structure of the blog will be like:

This is the comparison between what I’m trying to do and an Ignatian contemplation: